SOME MORE BRILLIANT WEIGHT LOSS TIPS...

Drink two glasses of milk a day + a vitamin D supplement for a weight loss boost

Buy yourself The Diet Plate from www.slimmingplate.co.uk which marks out how much carbs, proteins, veg and sauxes you should eat.

Swap a Mint Aero bar for a Naked Cocoa Mint Bar – The Aero is 256 cals and the Naked bar is 135 calories.

ENJOY CHRISTMAS CAKE - IT'S THE LOWEST IN FAT...

A slice of Christmas cake is the lowest in fat, which keeps the calories down. A small slice will only give you 185 calories and 4.3g fat. And as it is packed with dried fruit and nuts, Christmas cake also contains more fibre than most of the other treats – around 1.3g a slice (an apple provides 3.3g and the recommended daily amount is 24g) Mince pies are 255 calories each due to the fat in the pastry .

The lowest in calories is the chocolate yule log which is because the lightness of the sponge cake means the typical slice of 35g is only 155 calories.

COCONUT MILK TO SPEED METABOLISM....

Another diet tip for you which sounds brilliant to me. Add coconut milk to home-made curries as new studies suggest the fats it contains can speed up your metabolism. Turkey curry here I come..........

VINEGAR FOR WEIGHT LOSS...

Apparently two tablespoons of vinegar before meals could help you to lose weight. The effect means that fewer calories from carbohydrates enter the system.

Vingegar has also been shown to stabilise blood sugar spikes after a meal by up to 81% lowering the chance of hunger pangs.

A STOLL BEFORE DINNER TO HELP YOU FEEL FULL...

Brazilian researchers have found that if you go for a stroll before dinner the exercise helps to restore the sensitivity of brain cless involved in controlling our feelings of fullness,so we eat less.

BEVERLEY HILLS DIET...

The Beverley Hills diet was devised by actress Judy Mazel, who has written several books on the subject.

The plan is said to operate on the unproven belief tht weight loss can be achieved by eating specific foods at the same time or in a certain order each day.

SLIM PATCH...

Apparently 'Purefect' sell slimming aids with capsules which are a natural supplement that helps detoxify the body and reduce bloating and also a discreet patch that releases natural extracts to suppress the appetite.

They also have an easy to follow fitness videa and meal plans. The aids are for 30 days and cost around £49.95 and available online at www.howtogetslim.co.uk

SOME MORE DIET TRICKS...

USE PEPPER – They say that if you season your food well with pepper to avoid weight gain Research in the journal 'Nutrition Today' shows that pepper helps to burn calories. Its active ingredient piperine raises the body's nervous system, boosting metabolic rate.

A DIET TIP I NEVER KNEW...

'Never eat potatoes and bread at the same meal'

HOW MANY DIETS ARE THERE IN THE WORLD...

Did you know that there are literally thousands and thousands of diets you can choose from to help you lose some weight.

From celebrity, fad, quick fix's, clubs, health farms etc, they just keep popping up left right and centre.

So how on earth do you know where to start. Hopefully this is where I come into the equation.

I will soon be covering a different diet every-day to help you decide which one might suit you best.

I thought I'd tried a lot of them but once I started looking on the internet, I was overwhelmed with the number out there.

So, if you are looking for a specific diet then watch this space.

BACK TO THE THREE DAY DIET...

Well, its been a few weeks since I went on the three day diet but it's all back on again now, so with Christmas only three weeks away I am going to do another session of the three day diet this week.

If successful then I plan on doing it again next week ready for Christmas then I am definitely going back to Slimming club in the New Year as I need to be weighed in to lose wait and doing this crash diet is only for when I'm desperate.

Wish me luck...

THE LATEST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT IN BRITAIN...

Believe it or no the obese people in Britain could be 'bribed' to take a walk as part of a controversial attempt to make the nation healthier, according to the Daily Mail Newspaper.

Apparently millions of Britons from all ages could be offered financial rewards to take more exercise.

Well, if that's not an excuse to get big in the first place, then I'll eat my hat!

A FIZZY DRINK THAT CAN BURN OVER 200 CALORIES IN 3 HOURS !

Cranberry flavoured 'Aspire' is said to burn off 209 calories within 3 hours of drinking it, according to scientists at Leeds Met University.

Apparently they found that when green tea was combined with caffeine, amino acid and ginger, there was a 'thermogenic effect'. This means the body generates more heat to digest food and temporarily stimulates the metabolism.

The drink is available from Holland & Barrett and is £1.59 and 12.5 calories a tin, but it is not advisable for those sensitive to caffeine to drink it.

Although more tests need to be carried out on this to confirm their findings, I think its well worth a shot over Christmas when we are all eating those extra calories.

THE LATEST FRENCH 'DUKAN DIET' HAS MIXED REVIEWS...

A diet favoured by Kate Middleton's mother has been condemned as a 'health hazard' some local papers were saying yesterday.

The 'Dukan Diet' is a protein based regime, which bans most carbohydrates but has a good weight lot success rate.

Apparently Kate Middleton's mother has lost 4lbs in 4 days surviving on cottage cheese and prawns. But medical experts say is has some serious nutritional imbalances.

I'm sure most diets are viewed by medical experts as having some nutritional imbalances but with the French being well known for their slim sizes, something obviously works with this diet.

THE THREE DAY DIET WORKS FOR ME...

Well I'm thrilled to bits with the three day diet I did recently. I initially lost 5 lbs in three days and gained a couple after a busy weekend but this week have lost the two ponds I gained so its still 5 lbs in two weeks.

I think the best bit of the diet is the strickness of what you eat which keeps you going on it. You know its only for three days, you know its a chemical reaction that makes you lose so much in such a short time. You also know that you are eating a very small amount of calories.

But what I didn't know would happen is that it definitely shrinks your stomach so when you do start eating again you don't need as much.

I cannot believe how much less I am eating which is what they say is the easiest way to lose weight. After this weekend I will be doing another two days on Monday and Tuesday as I cannot manage three days and have a really busy week next week.

I'll let you know how I get on, watch this space as they say.

HEART HEALTH AND CALORIES...

Our grandparents and great-grandparents who were raised in the late 1800's and early 1900's lived a primary agricultural existence with 80% of Americans living in a small family farm in rural areas. Before 1910 heart attacks were virtually unheard of. By 1930, heart attacks accounted for no more than 3000 deaths a year.

By 1960, that number had risen to over 500,000. Genetics cannot explain this huge increase over one or two generations. However 100 years ago the average person consumed 3,500 calories a day which is approximately the same as we eat now, but in the early 1900's most of the calories consumed were carbohydrates, and there was considerable less fat.

In addition in the 1900's folk did a lot of exercise and their work was more active and hobbies also made them exercise more. As our working habits have changed, so have calorie requirements. The average person now needs around 2000-2500 a day to keep at their present weight.

INTERNET DIET PILLS PLUNGED ONE LADY INTO PARANOIA..

INTERNET DIET PILLS PLUNGED ONE LADY INTO PARANOIA..

According to the Mail, using herbal diet pills to help you drop a few dress sizes maybe very enticing but one lady who did just that ended up sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Apparently after only a short while on the pills she noticed a change to her personality and it was only three months later that she became so bad with paranoia and delusion that she was sectioned.

She lost two stone in the first month with them but that was mainly due to the effect the pills had on her. They said this is an extreme case, but it does make you realise how some of these drugs can affect you.

THREE DAY CRASH DIET...

As I said in one of my posts, the three day diet that I did certainly helped me lose a number of pounds and I have to say that after a busy weekend I only gained one of the lost ones. Therefore I am now going to do it for another three days.

The diet below is one which I have slightly adapted to suit me but it has still worked.

3 DAY DIET
Day 1:
BREAKFAST:
Black tea/ coffee
1/2 grapefruit ( I actually had half an orange as I am on statins so cannot eat grapefruit)
1 slice toast
2 Tablesp Baked Beans
LUNCH
Black tea/ coffee
4oz tuna ( I had 4oz salmon)
1 slice toast
DINNER:
2 slices any cold meat
1 - cup string beans
4oz beetroot
1 small apple
4oz vanilla ice - cream
Day 2:
BREAKFAST:
Black tea/ coffee
1 egg
1 slice toast
1/2 banana
LUNCH:
4oz cottage cheese
5 slatine crackers
DINNER:
2 slices of lean meat
3oz broccoli
2oz carrots
1/2 banana
4oz vanilla ice - cream,
Day 3:
BREAKFAST:
Black tea/ coffee
5 saltine crackers
1 slice cheddar cheese
1 small apple
LUNCH:
1 hard - bolied egg
1 slice toast
DINNER:
4oz tuna (I had 4oz salmon)
4oz beetroot
4oz cauliflower
1/2 melon
4oz vanilla ice - cream

This diet works on a chemical breakdown, and is proven, and is also 100% non - risk.

Following the diet, eat moderately/ normally. Exercise is encouraged, but not required.

Good luck!!

FAT FREE FRUIT LOAF RECIPE...

FAT FREE TEA LOAF

Ingredients

1lb (400g) dried mixed fruit, 1 large mug of hot black tea ( any type you prefer or fruit) 1 mug of soft brown sugar and 2 mugs of self-raising flour, 1 beaten egg

Method

Soak your dried fruit in the tea overnight.

Mix all of the above together then place in a 2lb (800g) loaf tin.

Bake for 2 hours at 160C, 325F, or Gas Mark 3.

THE THREE DAY DIET A HIT OR A MISS?...

The three day diet has hit the news again with headlines like, 'another fad diet', dating back to 1985, with promises of quick weight loss, cleansing, lowering cholestrol and increased energy.

It must be followed exactly for three days at a time, followed by normal eating for four to five days. It says 10lb weight loss can be achievable in three days but a lot of that can be fluid loss.

They do say that the combination of the suggested foods does work due to the low amount of calories you eat in one day.

As far as for me I lost 5 lbs in the three days and my husband lost 9lbs which I guess does show that some of it can be fluid.

I had no problem with the three days but its not something I could have done for longer than three days but will definitely be doing it again for three days before Christmas.

After a busy weekend, I am sure I will have gained a couple of pounds but it's still easier to do it this way at this time of year when you have so many events coming up near the Christmas period. S, I guess as far as I am concerned its a 'hit'.

DID YOU KNOW...

Did you know that if you eat vegetable soup as a starter to lose weight, the fibre causes the rest of the meal to pass through your digestive system more quickly.

SOME GREAT DIET TIPS.....

The most satisfactory plan to lose weight in the 1940's was to eat a little less of everything, even it it means getting up from the table and not feeling full.

They say that you should banish salt and pepper and anything strongly seasoned until your weight is more normal as they tend to stimulate the appetite.

Another rule is never to drink at meals but to drink either half an hour before or after your food and eat slowly, chewing every morsel thoroughlySO

DIET TIP...

If you want to lose weight from your hips then avoid spicy foods as they over stimulate the glands that cause fat storage in your hips and bum.

WEIGHT LOSS TEA...

They say that green tea and oolong tea may help in weight loss. 3 -5 cups a day has shown measurable amounts of weight loss.

It burns the fat by stimulating a process known as lipolysis in fat cells, increasing the metabolism. After 12 weeks body fat was most reduced around the abdomen and upper arms.

Oolong has been suggested to burn more calories than green tea.

'I'M FAT'...

She looked at her body
She was far
There was no denying it
She closed her eyes and ran her finger along her torso
Feeling out the ripples of flesh
The rolls upon rolls of it

She HAS to do something about it


I wrote this in bed last night so I'm back on here blogging in the hope it will spur me on to succeed.

For the next three days I am doing the '3 day diet', which was once called the 'British Heart Foundation' diet but they now say this is not a diet they follow as it is so low in calories.

I think maybe a quick detox will kick start my diet and hopefully take away my constant cravings for anything and everything sweet.

Today because I decided last night that I was going to clear out the goodies and give it a good shot before Christmas, I've eaten enough chocolate to feed a family of four for a week and the only thing it seems to have given me is a headache. The cupboards and fridge are nearly empty now though so even if I had one last pig later on tonight, there is not much left to eat anyway.

ANOTHER FAD DIET?

Apparantly the world of celebrity has seen some extreme diets but the latest craze would shock anyone who would try any diet. Its called the "Charcoal Diet", and one of the Girls Aloud singers (Sarah Harding) is a fan of it.

It claims that eating carbon gets rid of "toxins" and Miss Harding sprinkles it on food as she says it helps her to tone up.

Charcoal has in fact been used to stop the body from absorbing poisons since the 19th Century(I'm sure it wasn't used for dieting in that day as the word didn't seem to exist).

You don't eat the raw black stuff (obviously) but you can buy activated charcoal tablets from a health shop.

Appesat Appetite Suppressant

Appest by Goldshield

This is another weight loss tablet that has been clinically proven as a natural appetite suppressant for the supportive treatment of excess weight and weight management

It says that appesat can help you to get to your desired weight and stay there by modifying your appetite, its not going to happen overnight but will take some weeks to work. They work by creating a slight full feeling before each meal and helps your to realise when you are full which will then help you to reduce the amount you eat without the stress of feeling hungry.

Like most weight loss tablets you have to take then with a large glass of water which will then enable the tablets to swell in your stomach to a soft jelly-like complex which remains in the stomach for quite a while.

The dosage they advice is 3 tablets three times a day before each meal, until you feel pleasantly full even after a small meal. For more tips about diet and exercise go to www.appesat.co.uk

I have been taking these for the last couple of weeks now and must admit that at first I really felt full and only had the desire to eat when the food was put in front of me. I was extremely disappointed when I had not lost any weight by the end of the first week. However I carried on with them and went down to two three times a day as they are not a cheap option to weight loss and you could soon finish a box of 50.

When I have completed the course I will let you know the outcome before I try another type of appetite suppressant diet pill in order to find the one I think is the best.

WOW! 8 STONE LOSS IN 14 MONTHS AMAZING

I've not been here for a couple of weeks and its mainly because I havent been doing to well but since I put this artile on my local Community Blog http://ravenshead.blog.o.uk - I feel so inspired by it that I am going to be here most days to tell you how I am getting on. Meanwhile I hope this story inspires other people who are struggling with weight loss.

Steph Banner from Ravenshead was named “Greatest Loser” at the Ravenshead Slimming World group after losing over 8 stone in just 14 months!

She has dropped from a size 28 tops and size 26 skirts and trousers to size 12, since joining the Slimming World group, which is held at Ravenshead Leisure Centre, Longdale Lane every Tuesday at 5.30pm and 7.0pm

She said, “When I first joined Slimming World I went along because I knew that my size was affecting my health, putting me at risk of lots of different conditions, I already had to take blood pressure tablets and I needed to have the dose increased. My Dad had been very ill the previous year and that made me very aware of the fact that “we only go round once”, and I was wasting my life.

Within weeks I was feeling so great and finding it so easy to eat more healthily that I wasn't doing it because I thought I should any more, I truly wanted to lose weight and change my life. I'd never have believed losing weight could actually be enjoyable – but it is!. And my blood pressure is now back to normal”.

“That first week I'd been prepared to give any diet a go but I didn't expect anything to be as flexible and easy to fit into my life as Slimming World's Food Optimising eating plan. I could eat a huge variety of foods so there was no need to go hungry, and with just a few tweaks of our favourite family meals I've learned how to cook things in a much healthier way, so dishes like Spaghetti Bolognese, Pasta Bake, Steak and Chips and Sunday Dinner are still on the menu. I also find that family and friends are amazed at the amount I eat. On work days I take over the fridge”.

I have also found that since losing weight I have more confidence in public and don't need to hide behind baggy clothes any more. It has made me a more confident person and my only regret is that I did not do it sooner”.

On top of making changes to her eating habits, Steph also gradually began to get more active by walking the dogs (which she says she always used to find an excuse not to do) playing family badminton and also doing a Davina DVD once a week. As her weight has decreased, if Steph hasn't taken the dogs out walking for at least an hour on Saturday and Sunday she feels deprived.

Denise Langley, who runs the Ravenshead group said “Making small, gradual changes, like Steph has, is the best way to lose weight and keep it off. It can be daunting when you think you've got to make massive changes, and have lots of weight to lose, but setting mini targets week by week all adds up and eventually leads to a whole new lifestyle. At Slimming World our members set their own targets and lose weight at their own pace.

It was a real pleasure to see Steph win our group's “Greatest Loser” competition. It's been an absolute joy to see the change in Steph since she walked through the door on her first night. Like a lot of new members, she was very shy and nervous but, as I know myself from when I first joined Slimming World as a member, you are sure of a very warm welcome when you first walk through the door. The support and praise of the group every week helped her to come out of her shell in no time. All the members are delighted for Steph and there couldn't be a more worthy winner”.

”We are all so happy for her and amazed at the difference in her. Now she's proved its possible to lose a lot of weight healthily without drugs or surgery - she's an inspiration”.

If you've been inspired by Steph pop along to Denise's group or for more information call her on 01623 792504 01623 792504 or visit www.slimmingworld.com

My fight with chocolate

Well, another day flown by just by way of a change !!! When did a minute suddenly feel like a second?

Started the day with a good 20 minute walk and then porridge for breakfast. Popped out with a friend and called at a local Farm Shop which has the most GORGEOUS range of chocolates but I kept my face straight ahead and went to the fresh vegetables to buy some for my vegetable lasagna tonight.

Everything was going fine I even made it to the counter without picking any chocolate up and then had to deal with paying while staring at my most favourite chocolate of all time. The mini Lindt chocolate eggs mmmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about them. I used to love to suck them until they made the roof of my mouth sore but I was really determined and left without picking up anything naughty.

Made it back to the car feeling really chuffed with myself then my friend passed me a mini Lindt bunny which she had bought me. " OMG " I mean its rude to give things back and the trouble was it was about 2.0pm when we got back so I was rather ready for some lunch and at the end of the day its only tiny so it can't be many sins - can it???

Well, it was two late a minute later as I had eaten the head first and then the body before I even had chance to get onto my computer to see how many sins it was. I guess I shouldn't have looked really as my jaw dropped in surprise when it said 10.5 sins !!! I mean how ridiculous is that - it was only a monthful.

I felt pretty wacked this afternoon so went for a rest in the hope that the saying that you lose weight while you sleep would deduct the 10.5 sins I had just eaten and tried to count myself doing press ups instead of counting sheep.

Of course I was starving when I woke up as I hadn't really eatn much so I had an apple (free) and some cottage cheese (also free) then started to make my vegetable lasagna.

I found a recipe on the Slimming World website for a tomato based pasta sauce that was free on green and adapted it slightly myself. It was truly delicious even though I say so myself. I can give you the recipe if you ask for it.

Anyway, full of pasta and vegetable tomato sauce my pudding was a baked apple with cinnamon and creme fresh and I feel really really full so I guess all in all, not a bad dieting day today. Lets hope tomorrow is another good one as I always think your first week is the hardest and if you can get into the diet straight away and lose some weight quickly it really spurs you on.

Day One of Slimming World Club Diet

After suffering badly for the last week with terrible back pain in which I consoled myself by eating anything and everything, as if my throat was being cut, I had decided that no matter what, I was going to join the Slimming World Club Diet last night as the weight gain was getting beyond a joke and certainly no joke to my health either.

I'd been a member of this club before and a couple of friends have been going for a few weeks now so I didn't feel in the least bit uncomfortable rejoining.

As usual a new book comes out at the beginning of every New Year but this time the latest Extra Easy Diet is at the front of the book and the Green Days and Red Days at the back. If you read the Extra Easy it implies you can eat as much as you like of fruit, vegetables (including potatoes) and pasta which to me seems impossible to lose weight on.

Anyway, I'm going to stick with the Red or Green Day diet until I really work out the Extra Easy as I would be so embarrassed if I went back after my first week and had gained some weight rather than lost some.

Today I've had a funny day in that I had a preplanned meal out which had a menu which was difficult to choose from, but without all the chocolates and biscuits I had been eating before, I felt I'd had a good day, no matter what.

Tomorrow I'm putting a list on the fridge of FREE green foods and FREE red so that I don't have to keep looking in the book and I'm going online to copy some new recipes. Then on Friday when we do our usual shop my shopping list will be full of the right foods for the diet.

I HAVE to lose this weight for myself, my back and my family and friends who suffer with me when I'm in pain and hopefully with the support of the club, friends and this diary which I am going to write daily I will see a light at the end of the tunnel to fighting what seems to have been a never ending battle to lose weight.

The Victorians way of eating

The Victorians typically ate 8 - 10 portions of fruit and vegetables daily, in a diet that contained far higher levels of vitamins and minerals than occur in todays nutrient depleted processed foods. They also consumed a lot less salt, sugar and alcohol and tobacco than us, Victoran era-hitorian writer - Dr. Judith Rowbothan, based in Nottinghamshire.

Prior to 1900 fruit and vegetables were cheap, grown mainly in allotments or gardens. Yeast was there secret to strong immune systems and bread which was stone-ground had large amounts of yeast in it as did the beer they drank which was unfiletered and full of yeast.

Yeasts have recently been clinically proven in both animal and human studies to boost our immune system. Unfortunately modern yeast based foods such as processed mass produced breads do not contain these beta glucans, they are emoved in the refining process.

From the mid-19th Century, the birth rate rose and deaths fell - people started living longer because they were better nourished than previously believed. Adult life expectancy was 75 for men and 73 for women, but they generally remained in good health until their last few weeks of life. This implies that current advice for five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is insufficient.

Can't join Slimming World tonight

I was really up for rejoining Slimming World Club again tonight with my friend after a good day yesterday and I've hardly ate anything today. But there is a reason I'm not eating much and that's because my back has gone out again and I think it has something to do with the pain, as I just don't feel like much at all.

I hope it settles down soon as when its bad like this I cannot do anything really except rest, rest, and rest which means no burning up of calories.

I've managed to keep myself busy as I've set up a new blog for my local community and also a Facebook page and to be honest with you I do find writing does take my mind off the pain.

I'm hoping the scales tomorrow will show a weight loss, as I've had a red day yesterday (protein) and a green day (carbohydrates) again today without any worries although I must admit I do still find I am fuller on a green day rather than a red.

Why is losing weight so hard?

Another day gone by and after having two such fabulous days I was really chuffed yesterday when I found out that I had lost 3lbs since Thursday (48hrs) which obviously had something to do with fluid while away on holiday.

Anyway, I felt so chuffed with myself that I decided I would do another carb day and treat myself to a hot cross bun at tea time as we had some friends coming over for the night and were arriving around 4ish.

I kept on the carbs all day and had porridge for breakfast then melon, banana and cottage cheese for lunch followed by a low fat yogurt. I enjoyed the hot cross bun at tea time and had already decided I would drive to the Italian that night so that I would just drink low cal drinks.

Everything was going hunky dory until we sat waiting for our food. The Restaurant was mega mega busy and we seemed to be the last table in a full Restaurant at 8.30pm by which stage we were all rather hungry. Forty five minutes later and we had only just got our drinks order but we were all so hungry that we asked for some garlic bread to nibble on. Big mistake number one !! My starter was Mussels which isn't exactly filling but when I ordered it I was thinking of my diet but by the time it arrived I was dipping the bread in the sauce like my throat had been cut.

My main course was pasta with a tomato sauce which I knew would be ok on a green/carb day so enjoyed that but again we had to wait a while so when it did come I completely cleared the plate of pasta.

By this stage everyone except for myself on the table (4 of us) were well and truly tanked up after drinking for so long and they all wanted a sweet course - mistake number two!!! I said I would share my husbands.He'd ordered chocolate and vanilla ice-cream which arrived with a gorgeous chocolate stick in it.

I'm sure by now you know what I am going to say and yes I really did enjoy the biscuit and most of the chocolate ice cream as well. I did then persuade us all to go home for coffee before any more goodies arrived at the table but when I got home I decided to have a last drink with the others as I was just not in the same frame of mind as anyone else ( you know the feeling).

I opted for Bailey's so I'm sure you know the outcome and a few Bailey's later we all retired to bed and yes when I got on the scales this morning the two pounds I had lost was straight back on again with another half pound thrown in for good measure.

Today being Mother's Day my husband has cooked all day for me and we all had bacon sandwiches for breakfast which was fine as I had already decided today would be a red/protein day. After our friends left I went for a long walk, well 20 minutes, but seemed long to me. We did not have lunch until late afternoon as other members of the family were coming but I just about managed to wait until it was ready, even though I was really really hungry.

Fortunately I did say to the kids no chocolates for Mothers Day but deep down I was hoping some would arrive so I could use the excuse that I had to eat them as it was Mothers Day but instead got some lovely fresh flowers.

Lunch cooked by my husband was lovely and perfect for my diet which was roast lamb with vegetables followed by strawberries and creme fresh. Its now 7pm and I am still not feeling hungry and back into the lose weight mode and just hope that tomorrow can be as successful as last Thursday and Friday as I join the Slimming Club on Tuesday night !!!!!

Herbal Tablets that eats up your carbohydrates

I was reading an article on DEcarb pills which are made from kidney beans and are supposed to held prevent you from digesting carbohydrates. As we all know eating too many carbs puts weight on basically because the starchy is converted directly into sugar, and any that is not used is stored as fat.

DEcarb contains a high concentration of phaseolamin which is a study showed that a 1.5g tablet cut the amount of carbs absorbed in a meal by up to 66%.

I decided to have a look at www.decarb.co.uk website which was extremely knowledgeable and lets you do a quick survey to see what type of eater you are. Mine was spot on when it said that I am a 35% Reward Eater - as a reward eater it says I may find it easy to moderate my food intake most of the time but when I feel "out of sorts" (with my back problem is very, very often) then I turn to food to make myself feel better. True, very very true. It also said that I am 33% Hungry Dieter - as a hungry eater I have all the best intentions and understand what I need to do but regularly denying myself of food just leaves me feeling too hungry. Finally it said I was a 32% Disorganised Eater - which basically means what it says that I eat when I'm hungy and don't think about what I am eating.

It then said I would benefit from the Decarb Tablets with my weight loss and I must admit I did think that if I do the Green Day on Slimming World which is mainly carbs and took these at the same time then would that mean I would lose twice as much weight????

Well I've yet to discuss it with my other half as its quite a few pennies to buy and I also want to join Slimming World next week. I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried the Decarb Tablets as I think that would sway me either way.

Started the day full of enthusiasm

Well I've started the day full of enthusiasm and have been on a 20 minute walk with the dog and only had one slice of toast instead of my usual two. I had words with my husband this morning to hide any chocolate that is left from what he bought yesterday and I am just about to sit down with my Slimming World book to make my shopping list. Lets hope the rest of my day continues like this.

Its now evening and I've managed to get through today really well without feeling too hungry. For lunch I had a baked potato filled with a small tin of Heinz Spaghetti followed by a fat free yogurt which is all free on a green day on Slimming World.

I bought myself some chocolate limes as they looked the lowest of all the sweets to have in instead of chocolate and had my allowance of three throughout the day. During the afternoon I just had an apple and for dinner I had another very large baked potato filled with Cottage Cheese and Pineapple which really made me feel full.

I decided to do a Green Day for the start of my diet as I find Carbohydrates far more filling than Protein and with fruit being free on both days I knew I could enjoy that in between each meal.
I finished my evening meal off with a bowl of strawberries and a tablespoon of low fat creme fresh.
My sins have reach 10 and I can have up to 15 but I am quite full enough so wont eat any more today.

I'm not one of these people who can leave it a week before I weigh myself so will be on the scales first thing tomorrow and hope that I have lost at least a few ounces. I've also phoned a friend up today who is going to the local Slimming World Club to say that I will join her on Tuesday.

I feel totally motivated today and really hope it stays over the weekend as we have some friends coming tomorrow for the rest of the weekend and have booked a meal at an Italian Restaurant but I have said I will drive to avoid having any alcohol.

Another bad dieting day !!!!!

After such a cold winter I'm sure most dieters like me, have over filled themselves with food to make them feel better. Personally, I was gutted when I weighed myself a few weeks ago before a short holiday to find out that I had put on all my weight loss from before Christmas and vowed I would be good on holiday taking advantage of not having food around me all the time.

Unfortunately the weather in Spain was even worse than here with constant rain which led to more over indulgence just for something to do. I haven't dared weigh myself today and was determined to start straight away but having not done a shop I have just eaten what I have in.

I started the day well with two slices of wholemeal bread without butter with just a little spread of marmalade. I only drink skimmed milk at home so I have probably had about a quarter of a pint throughout the day in my tea's and coffee's. All was going ok when lunch time came and I had the same again as I had not had time to go for a food shop.

Then came my temptations in the way of chocolate which my other half had picked up while buying some milk. A bar of galaxy which I ate so quickly that I didn't have chance to even think about whether I should eat it or not.

Dinner was grilled salmon and a couple of new potatoes but with nothing else in my husband showed me some more chocolates that he had bought. Chocolate raisins which again I ate a handful without thinking of the consequences.

Why is it so flippin hard to diet when I could have had a really good day today?

I have decided it is now essential that I write a food diary daily and plan to follow the Slimming World Diet from tomorrow and join the club next week. You can follow my dieting days which I know will be full of good and bad days, but maybe just the fact that I am letting strangers read about my eating habits that I just might help me stick to the diet and finally lose some weight.

More bad news about FRESH Fruit - too much can make you fat

From being told that dried fruit is fattening now an article in The Mail has stated that too much fresh fruit can make you fat !!!!

Within your 5 a day portions you could be consuming more fructose or fruit sugar than you thought.

I will give you a list of one piece of fruit and the equivalent amount of sugar - you will be really surprised.

Apricot (pinch)
Clementine (pinch)
Plum (large pinch)
Fig ( half teaspoon)
8 Cherries ( half teaspoon)
1 Slice of Honeydew Melon ( over half a teaspoon)
Kiwi (over half a teaspoon)
Orange (over half a teaspoon)
5 Strawberries ( one teaspoon)
Glass of Orange Juice ( one teaspoon)
Banana ( one teaspoon )
Small Mango ( one teaspoon )
Grapefruit ( one and a half teaspoons)
Granny Smith Apple (one and a half teaspoons)
Golden Delicious Apple ( two teaspoons)
Pear ( two teaspoons)
Large bunch of grapes 500g ( EIGHT teaspoons)

Don't know about you but I'm in shock at some of the amounts of sugar already in fruit and its something I eat an awful lot of which has stemmed from me doing the Slimming World Diet which classes fruit as a free food. I think I'm going to have to look at my far more seriously and do a daily diary to see how much I am actually eating.

Calories in dried fruits

I managed to clear the house of all the sweets, chocolate and biscuits ready to fill it up with fresh fruit, dried fruit, yoghurts etc . I studied the isle in the Supermarkets and bought what I thought would be a great alternative to my other treats.

Unfortunately I was in for a real shock when I got home with the products. My low fat yoghurts were fine and also my fresh fruit but when I started looking into the calorie and fat content of the dried fruit I was totally shocked.

They are all soooooooooooo high in calories which apparantley is something to do with the sugar contect when they are dried. The other unfortunate thing was that I loved them all and got quick excited by the fact that I had finally found something to replace my love of chocolates and cake.

So, its back to the drawing board again now after I have eaten what I have bought. To avoid dissapointment I have decided to not weigh myself this week until I have eaten all I have in stock as I will only feel worse.

I've since done a little bit of research on sugar free sweets which can be bought from a variety of websites and which I think would be better than the ones in Boots as they are mainly for Diabetics and have something that can send you dashing to the lo.

That is actually all I think I need to help me on my diet as its snack times when I fell apart. I know they say have raw vegetables and the like but to be honest with you I would have to be starving before that would excite me.

If anyone has any other ideas on low calorie nibbles please let me know so that I can get back into my diet again.

Feeling rough with the flu!

I've not been hear for a whort while as I've not been to well with a bad throat and cough and everything aching. I was hoping that my appetite would reduce but unfortunately no such luck !!!!!

Anyway,I've not done very well with the diet over the last few days as we had friends for the weekend and went out for lunches and dinner and although feeling awful yesterday I still managed to clear all the food left over and we are out again tonight for my friends birthday.

I really hope I can get my head round it soon as nothing will fit me soon unless it has an elasticated waist and its not that long to my holidays. I've also had a ton of blood tests done today so am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing comes back wrong due to my weight.

Send me some vibes to help me stop thinking about food and getting some weight off please, I am absolutely desperate.

Not a bad dieting day today so hope for me yet !!!

I felt quite positive after my walk with the dog this morning even though I was going out for lunch. I'd decided last night to start the Slimming World diet with some friends who went back to the club last night, which I will go back to in a couple of weeks.

I had a lunch with the girls today (15 of us) at a College where the students cook for you and its a three course meal for £5.95 which is soooooooooo cheap. I knew a 3 course lunch was a no no for me as I just feel uncomfortable for the rest of the day but with one of my other dieting friends with me we looked at the menu and decided we could do a green day.

I opted for no starter and a macaroni cheese main course meal followed by rice pudding which of course you can do on your green day and I felt sooooooo full after it, I just couldn't wait to get home to take my skirt of. But the good thing was that I didn't feel like dinner so just had a taste of the vegetables I'd cooked for my husband with pork and new potatoes. I did have a bowl of fresh fruit salad which I just adore and can always find room for but all in all not a bad days dieting.

Lets hope tomorrow is as succesfull. As you can see from the post before this I have another friend who has written about her dieting day which I do think will mean we can help each other get through one way or another so do keep in touch if you want to put anything on this blog that might help us.

Don't forget to look at my other blog http://backpain.blog.co.uk

Thanks for the opportunity

Thanks for having been allowed to add my experience.

I think this was the book that set me thinking http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/088368148X/ref=sib_dp_ptu#reader-page
though you know yourself what your own failings are and so try to prevent them.

Nothing can really prepare you for the minor crisis that comes along that tries to topple you from being positive - I had one such day yesterday waiting for the phone to ring for news of someone’s operation – I succumbed at 6pm and dived into the crisp cupboard usually reserved for my husband’s packed lunches.

A few years ago my Doctor said that being menopausal meant here wasn't much chance of me losing weight - for a while I did have the attitude - why bother? but gradually feeling more and more obese and less active, I began to look at alternatives. I did consider using a widely advertised Slimming pill who when approached said, said I should seek medical advice first, (my faith in the Medical Centre was then at an all time low so instead I began looking at alternatives.

I find if I eat breakfast of cereal then I am hungry again lunchtime but if I have fruit for breakfast then I can survive on a bowl of homemade vegetable soup until we eat our main meal when my husband returns home at 7.30pm.

Being as its that late when we eat then I do try making the meals light so they are more digestible – last night for instance we had baked potato, two rashers of bacon, a spoonful of red cabbage and a fried egg – tonight it will probably be something pasta based – usually its fruit for dessert. I don’t drink alcohol so know I don’t have to cut that back – Saturday nights (card night) I have a glass of bitter lemon to be social able.

I need to find a job and begin walking to work again then I am sure the pounds will fall much faster than they do at the moment.

4lbs off - 5lbs back on !!!!!

Don't you find it frustrating when everyone else is always right? Well, that certainly seemed to be the case with my recent three day diet. Soooooooo many of my friends said "they are a waste of time, you will put your weight straight back on again". Well I did plus an extra pound !!!!

I knew it was no quick fix but I was hoping it was the start of my determination to lose some weight. The first thing that I noticed was that I felt very bloated and also that the three day diet had made me constipated even after increasing my fruit intake.

Anyway,a weekend away being as careful as I could be put back all I had lost and another extra pound on for enjoying myself. So, I'm back to square one but still not defeated and will start my Slimming World diet tomorrow. Some friends have rejoined the club tonight but I chickened out ashamed at the weight I have gained and said I will be back in a couple of weeks when my diary is less busy.

Hopefully some of my friends are going to join me with this blog telling us how they are going about losing (or gaining in my case) their weight.

I've lost 4 lbs in 3 days - Brilliant

I've lost 4 lbs in three days on my three day diet and I am chufed to bits as that is what I put on over Christmas.

Today I've had mainly protein food and started with a breakfast of Porridge and for lunch a fresh fruit salad I made with creme fresh (low fat of course) followed by a fat free yoghurt, for dinner I had tenned red salmon mixed with cottage cheese and a green pepper with some fruit salad round it (delicious) followed by an egg custard I had made to use up some milk as we had not used any for three days !!!! My snacks today were some dried mango pieces and 1oz of dark chocolate.

Tomorrow I will have the same for breakfast and make the same lunch for myself but we are out for a meal tomorrow and Saturday so that's when things can get trickly but I will keep a diary of everything I eat then enter it on here when I am back. I wont weigh myself again until Monday which will be a week since I started and should be interesting to see what I have lost after a weekend away.

Final day of my three day diet

Well I'm just about at the end of my three day diet and breakfast was sooooooooo exciting - it was 1oz of Cheddar cheese with 5 tuc biscuits and an apple (I thought I'd gone to heaven and back) Lunch was a hard boiled egg and a piece of toast and Dinner was 1 x cup of Cottage Cheese with 1 x cup of carrots and half a cup of broccoli followed by a cup of melon and half a cup of ice cream.

I have found today the easiest of the three days but I'm ready to start another diet tomorrow I don't think I could take this longer than three days, but I must admit I am still going to the loo an awful lot more than normal so after researching which foods are best for fluid retention I popped to the supermarket ready to start tomorrow.

Obviously eating fewer carbohydrates like bread and pasta will help with fluid retention but potassium laden foods like fruits and vegetables such as apples, melons, onions, tomatoes and green vegetables are all effective diuretic foods. Others are asparagus, celery, parsley and watercress.

I'm going to try and stick to mainly protein and eat fish, chicken and some nuts with tons of fruit and vegetables but I am away for a couple of days this weekend so it will be harder to follow but I am determined to not put any weight I have hopefully lost of this three day diet.

I do hope I come back tomorrow with quite a few pounds weight loss as I do feel a lot more comfortable so I actually cant wait to weigh myself................

Day Two of my Three Day Diet Plan

Today I must admit I have found harder than yesterday and certainly harder than last time I did this diet which was last summer so I guess that must be because I've stretched my stomach over Christmas !!!!

I have also been trying to find a fish and fruit diet which someone had blogged me about as I adore fish and fruit but I can't find one anywhere so if anyone knows of this diet do let me have the link.

Todays menus were for Breakfast 1 Egg and 1 Slice of Toast, Lunch was 1 cup of Cottage Cheese (or Tuna) and 5 Tuc Cracker Biscuits and for Dinner it was half a cup of carrots, half a cup of broccoli and 2 Hot Dogs followed by half a cup of ice cream and a banana. As usual clear tea or coffee and water.

Wierd mixture but I guess its the chemical side of this that works - I spent most of yesterday running to the loo so I'm sure I lost a lot in fluid. Anyway, tomorrow is my last day so I will give you my update then on how I feel and how my day as gone.

My first dieting day

Well I've got through what I always think is the hardest day on a diet - the first day.

WIth it being Monday I kept myself busy with housework this morning then we went out to get some of the specific foods for this 3 day diet and before I knew it, it was 2pm and I hadn't even had my lunch.

The longest wait to me was dinner as we always have a cuppa and something with it at around 4.30ish as we do not have our dinner until around 7pm and I'd say that was the only time today that I was really thinking about food.

So you can see the type of food you have on this three day diet I will give you my food list for today which started of with Breakfast which was half a grapefruit or half an orange and one piece of toast spread with peanut butter (yuk!) Lunch was one cup of Cottage Cheese or Tuna with one slice of toast and Dinner was 3 slices of lean meat (ham for me) with one cup of carrots and one cup of broccoli followed by one cup of ice-cream with an apple (the best bit). Your drinks are clear tea or coffee or water and that's it.

I will of course weigh myself after the three days when I will then be following the usual calorie counting diet. What I did find out today which I didn't realise is that
hunger pangs can actually be thirst pangs so pour yourself a drink of water or a diet drink before you head for the biscuit tin.

Until tomorrow...............

The start of my weight loss diary

Hi,
As you can see I have not been here since July 2009 when I did a short post on my back pain blog which has been causing me a lot of problems since my entry before that on February 2008. When I started this blog I wrote it more as a month to month diary of me and what I had been up to but suggested in my blog that I would write a diet blog in October 2007. In the summer of 2007 I had Hypnosis to help me lose weight and wrote a few posts on that then nothing until January 2008 when I started my weight loss diary. Unfortunately that only lasted until February 2008 as my life was taken over and dominated by pain which was all written in my back pain blog.

I have now decided to try and make a conscious effort to lose weight and write my diary as at only 5ft in height I do not have any spares inches in which to carry extra weight. As it is I am top heavy but the only way round that would be to have a breast reduction which is out of the question.

Its hard to admit and put into words the way I feel about my body since my last big spinal operation which left me in Hospital for three months and I had to have another two further surgeries. What I can say is that I cannot bear to look at myself around my middle and always put on a camisole after my shower whatever the weather.

Its not that I'm a vain person or even that I want to get into a bikini as at my age its not something I would think of in the first place but it just looks such a mess from all the various surgeries I have had. I also know that the worst thing for back pain is to carry excess weight so this is something I should have done a long time ago.

This time I hope to succeed, no I WILL succeed and in the process will write my diary as often as I can, warts and all. I am starting it tomorrow by shrinking my stomach on a three day diet plan which was originally called "The British Heart Foundation Diet" but they now will have nothing to do with this and it is just listed as the three day diet.

I'm not going to give you my weight (chicken, I know) but thats between me and the scales but I will give you my losses (hopefully) along the way. I guess that is all I have left to say for today except do all wish me luck.